Hazing Policy

From the Southern Methodist University Code of Conduct: 3.15 Hazing

"Hazing" means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include, students at an educational situation.

Hazing as defined by Texas State Law

Hazing may include, but is not limited to:
  1. Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity.
  2. Any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student.
  3. Any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or which adversely effects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
  4. Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, or that adversely effects the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subsection.
  5. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the Penal Code. Sec 4.52.
A person commits an offense if the person:
  1. Engages in hazing.
  2. Solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing.
  3. Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits hazing to occur.
  4. Has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report said knowledge in writing to the Dean of Students or other appropriate officials of the institution.